Forrest Dale Parmer, 88, died Thursday, June 9, 2011, at Scott and White Hospital in Temple. He was born December 24, 1922, to Mildred Leigh Kirby Parmer and John Lawson Parmer in their Lometa home on the old 70 Ranch, a ranch now listed for having been owned and worked as a ranch by the same family for over 100 years.

Dale graduated from Lometa High School attended Tarleton State on a tennis scholarship and began business studies at the University of Texas. World War II started while he was a student at UT and he applied to go to Midshipman School at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He was accepted, but it was only six weeks until college graduation. The dean at the university told him that he could take the grade he had at that point and graduate, so that he could begin officer training. He graduated top of his class at Northwestern and entered the Navy as a Lieutenant, Junior Grade at the age of nineteen. He got his commission and boarded the U.S.S. Witchita, a heavy naval cruiser, in New York Harbor. Returning from the war, Dale started work for IBM then completed his MA and taught 7-8 grade math in San Saba while ranching in Lometa. He and his family faithfully attended the Lometa Church of Christ.

Visitation was held at the Lometa Church of Christ on Sunday, evening, June 12, from 6-8 p.m. and Services at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, June 13. 2011 with Aubrey Rodgers officiating. Burial was at the Senterfitt Cemetery.

Dale is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred Leigh Kirby Parmer and John Lawson Parmer; one sister, Ruth Kirby Parmer McMahan (and her husband, Foy McMahan); three brothers in law - Donald Gibbs (and his wife Hilah Jo Gibbs), John Oliver Barnes (and his wife Allegra Gibbs Barnes) and Andrew Gibbs; son-in-law, Thomas Earl Masley and niece, Linda McMahan Gunning.

Survivors include his wife, Cullene Gibbs Parmer; sister-in-law Alene McAfee Gibbs; daughters, Karen Parmer Maxwell (Gary), Delena Parmer Masley, and Lisa Parmer Williams (Gene); 8 grandchildren, Melissa Maxwell Rubin (David), Lori Maxwell Franklin (Jerry), Lindsey Maxwell-Gaines (Chris), Wendi Williams Vassiliou (Chris), Dusty Williams, Holly Masley Coffey (Clark), Stephen Masley (Morgan) and Chad Masley (Liz); 10 great grandchildren, Zach Rubin, Maddie Rubin, Nicholas Rubin, Macy Franklin, Kiu Franklin, Keonye Franklin, Finnegan Coffey, Masley Grace Coffey, Cooper Coffey and Lauren Claire Masley; 6 nieces Carol Barnes McDonald, Judy Barnes Johnson (Stu), Kay Barnes Allen (Ki), Andrea Gibbs Pickens (Joe), Bettie Gibbs Busby (Rickey) and Donna Jo Gibbs Mengel; and 5 nephews Mike Gibbs (Louise), Phil Gibbs, Mike McMahan (Keryn), Pat McMahan (Cheryl), and Rock McMahan (Sue); 25 grand nephews and nieces, Alex Pickens, Andie Pickens, Nelson Busby, Austin Busby, Kelsie Busby, Kayla Gibbs Scott, Christopher Gibbs, Michelle Gibbs Kimble, John Gibbs, Connie Gibbs, Matthew Gibbs, Michael David Mengel, Marshall Mengel, Justin McDonald, Shelton McDonald, Stuart Johnson, Jamie Johnson, Judith Allen, Tres Allen, Chuck Flournoy, Eryn McMahan, Chris McMahan, Meredith McMahan, Jeremy McMahan and Mabrie McMahan; and a host of great grand nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Senterfitt Cemetery Association or Cherokee Home for Children.

Sneed Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.